David Toland
Democratic candidate for Governor in Kansas
David Toland
Democratic candidate for Governor in Kansas
Kansas Democratic Governor nominee?
$88.6K
AUG 11, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Live Odds — Kansas Democratic Governor nominee?
Current prediction-market probability for the candidate, updated as market prices change.
0%chance to win
$88.6KAUG 11, 2026Candidate Overview
Key details about the candidate’s background, party, office sought and current campaign.
Current roleLieutenant Governor
PartyDemocratic
Age49 years old (May 27, 1977)
GenderMale
LocationKansas
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BackgroundPolitician
EducationUniversity of Kansas (B.A.)
Notable personal detailsDavid C. Toland is the 52nd Lieutenant Governor of Kansas and concurrently serves as Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. He was appointed Kansas Secretary of Commerce in January 2019 and appointed Lieutenant Governor in January 2021. Before joining state government, he led Thrive Allen County, a nonprofit focused on community health improvement and economic development, and previously worked in economic development and planning roles in Washington, D.C. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Kansas.
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Political Positions
Economy & Taxes
As Kansas Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce, David Toland has promoted tax credits, business incentives, and economic-development programs (including the APEX megaproject incentives and Community Service Tax Credit) to attract private investment and revive communities. His public work emphasizes using tax credits and targeted incentives to spur business recruitment, large private-sector investments, and local development projects.
Healthcare
Supports Medicaid expansion in Kansas and has publicly promoted expanding Medicaid as a way to increase access to care, shore up rural hospitals, and address healthcare workforce shortages.
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Abortion & Reproductive Rights
No clear, explicit public position on abortion was found. Public records show Toland defended small grants his former nonprofit received for maternal health and contraceptive services and he did not join a 2023 coalition of Democratic lieutenant governors focused on protecting abortion access. These items indicate involvement with reproductive-health programs but do not state a definitive stance for or against abortion access.
Climate & Energy
David Toland, as Kansas lieutenant governor and secretary of commerce, has promoted wind and solar development in Kansas and supported clean-energy economic development including recruitment of an electric vehicle battery plant and related investment. His public statements emphasize renewable energy as an economic driver and large-scale clean energy projects while pursuing business recruitment and job growth.
Latest News
David Toland is in the news because Kansas Democrats are holding contested 2026 primary elections, including the governor’s race and other statewide contests. The coverage does not identify the winners yet, so his current standing in the race is still unclear. Recent Kansas election debates have also centered on proof-of-citizenship voting rules, which were struck down in state court but are still being pushed by some officials.
What to expect in the Kansas state primary
Trump’s Voter-Fraud Myths Fuel State-Level Crackdowns
Supreme Court's Election Day case could swing the midterms
States plan measures to require voters’ IDs
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising